Bye Bye Summer?

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

The media is saying good bye to summer with tons of articles, blogs, and TV specials, but I say hold on! It’s still over 85 degrees in many parts of the US. It’s 88 degrees here in Glendale, and 85 by the beaches. In fact we typically don’t see a cool down in Los Angeles until closer to Halloween. Meanwhile department and online stores have cleared out mini skirts and tank tops to make room for wool sweaters and jeans.

Dear Department Store,

We can’t wear wool in California. Just stop it!

While finding summer clothing in September can prove to be challenging, the good news is that many summer items are already on sale. If you’re in need of items to stay cool in, visit the sale section of your favorite online retailer. It’s also a great time to buy a swim suit for the rest of this season, or for next season. Can’t find what you’re looking for online? Visit the nearest outlet mall. Many stores send last season’s items off to the outlet locations, and mark them down sometimes up to 70%.

Don’t know where to start? These online retailers are offering great deals on summer fashions now:

Express: 40% off Clearance

J Crew: Extra 25% off Sale Items

Victoria’s Secret: Swim Suit Sale & Clearance Items

Forever 21: Tons of trendy styles on sale now

Zumiez: 60% off Labor Day Sale

LuLu’s: Plenty of summer dresses under $30

You can save on more than just clothing in September. There is still plenty of time to have that summer BBQ you never got around to throwing. Target and Walmart are both offering great deals on patio furniture, and plastic dishware, everything you need to have a great outdoor party with friends.

Target: Up to 50% off Patio Clearance Items

Walmart: Patio Clearance

Don’t be fooled by the media. There is still plenty of time to enjoy your backyard, take a dip in the pool, and rock a mini dress. Take advantage of these great deals, and enjoy the heat while you can.

Black Tie

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

I love a good black tie event, it means that I can dress up in formal attire. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many black tie events these days.

While online shopping at Lulus.com I got inspired by this cute black bow tie top. I love a good bodysuit, so I knew I had to have it. Body suits stays in place, unlike when attempting to tuck a regular top into your skirt or pants. It also smooths out your look, no special shapewear or undies needed. The fabric is pretty stretchy, so when ordering keep that in mind. It’s a comfortable top, and the fit is great.

I wore my bow tie bodysuit for the first time this weekend in Vegas. I paired it with the faux leather fit and flare Express skirt featured on my blog here. You can purchase this sweet heart neckline, bow bodysuit at Lulus.com for just $37 plus shipping. To view this top on their website or to order a top of your very own visit the site here.

Summer:Fashion Finds Lately

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Looking at my wardrobe last week, I realized I’m lacking some bright summer colors. With another trip to Palm Springs in my immediate future, I knew I needed to seek out some fun and flirty summer dresses. Check out my summer fashion finds from Lulus.com below.

Each of these dresses is comfortable and flowy, perfect for the hot summer months. What’s even better about each of these lovely dresses is that you can get them from Lulus.com for $50 or less. Spend $100 and get free shipping as well! Click on the images below to be redirected to the item’s details page. Happy shopping!

Fashion Finds Lately

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Shopping brings me so much happiness, wait is that healthy? When you lose weight there’s no better way to celebrate then by buying a new outfit in a smaller size. A wedding, birthday, or first date are just a few events that excuse a trip to the mall. This month I’ve picked up a few more fashion favorites.

This month I was feeling the black and white look. Buying basics means that you have endless opportunities for mixing and matching using your current wardrobe. With that said, here are my fashion finds for April:

Baseball Season: Support Your Team While Looking Cute

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

meeshme.com

Baseball season is here whether you like it or not. Whether you are a baseball fan yourself, or attending games to please your boyfriend, there isn’t a reason why you can’t look cute. Just because you’re a sports fan doesn’t mean you can’t look feminine. Gone are the days where over-sized jerseys are your only option. Victoria Secret offers an MLB line with plenty of flirty fun pieces to choose from. As a Dodgers fan, I am partial to the white and blue. Below you will find some cute options for female baseball fans. Click on the image to be redirected to the Victoria Secret page where you can get additional information, or purchase these items. GO DODGERS!!

Dressing for Success

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Dressing for the workplace can be stifling, especially when you work in a corporate environment. Just because you have a serious job, doesn’t mean you can’t look seriously stylish. There are so many options for today’s working woman, that there’s no reason why you can’t brighten up the drab notion of work-ware. I attend quite a few tradeshows a year, and it’s always shocking to me how many women show up in black and white. Don’t be afraid to stand out ladies! Wearing color doesn’t mean you won’t be taken seriously, but wearing black can prevent you from standing out against your competition.

That being said here is my favorite professional look of the month. The pencil skirt is from Victoriasecret.com and the peplum top is from the current Spring line in Express stores now.

Happy Easter & Sizdah Bedar

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

I hope that everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday this weekend. Easter means different things to different people. To many it is a very religious holiday, and Sunday morning is spent at Mass. For others it’s about decorating Easter eggs, and time spent with family. For many children, it’s about finding the most eggs or getting the biggest basket.

For my family Sunday was a celebration of two holidays. For Persians, Sunday was the celebration of the coming of Spring. The Persian New Year is actually 13 days long, and ends with a celebration in the park called Sizdah Bedar. Sizdah is the Persian word for 13. Friends and family gather together at the park with tons of food and music. One major destination for Sizdah Bedar is in Orange County. Learn more about the festivities here.

My family and I abstained from visiting one of the overcrowded parks, and instead opted to stay local. Of course my aunts still made kabob in the park, but we hunted for Easter eggs as well. I think one of the most amazing things about my family is how they were able to keep their cultural traditions while embracing American culture. It has given me an extra identity, instead of a lost one. I am very appreciative to be able to take part in wonderful traditions from both cultures.

No matter how you celebrated, I hope that you celebrated with loved ones! Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

The Birthday Dress

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

You have to stand out on your birthday, it is a must! Last year I wore a full length silver and gold sequin dress. Crazy right? Not for me. I don’t believe that just because I’m not a movie star I don’t deserve to look glamorous. The dress was amazing, and I felt great in it, even though everyone else was in normal club attire. Many of my friends abide by fashion rules, and worry about what everyone else is wearing. Not me. I would always rather be over dressed than under dressed for an occasion. So when I saw that sparkling dress I knew it had to be my bday dress.

This year I was celebrating my birthday at Carthay Circle, a restaurant modeled after the 1920’s theater where Walt Disney premiered Snow White. I was looking for a dress that had old Hollywood glamour, that I could wear at a restaurant without feeling too over the top. My search seemed endless, and I was out of luck. I decided to visit my mother’s closet, which I have done throughout the years much to her dismay. I found a dress she wore back in the 80s, that I had always liked. The gold and white sequins and beading reminded me of the theme of the restaurant. I removed the 1980s shoulder pads, and I had my birthday dress.

I paired the dress with a pair of hot pink Steve Maddens, which have the most delicious jeweled heel. The shoes gave the outfit the pop of color it was missing. I decided not to wear jewelry, since the dress was so amazingly embellished. I had an amazing birthday, and felt like a Hollywood star for the evening. Remember it’s your birthday, dress to feel good about yourself. If you want to look glamorous do it! If you rather be in a T-shirt and jeans, it’s your special day.

Here’s a side by side of my mother and I in the dress:

Oz Screening: I’m Off to See the Wizard

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

This weekend I was lucky enough to get to see a screening of Oz: The Great and Powerful at the Walt Disney Studio lot in Burbank, California. This wasn’t my first time seeing a screening at this beautiful theater, but it was my boyfriend’s first time. He was impressed by the light show introduction, and the plush red reclining seats. I was more excited about the film I was about to see.

I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this film for months now. What’s there not to love? Amazing fashion worn by the three lovely witches, the always hilarious James Franco, and the magic and mystery that comes with every Disney film. If I was going to attend the screening, I had to look the part. To prepare for the release of Oz, I bought a few “OZ inspired” items. Emerald is the color of the year, and you can find it in plenty of stores. Sephora recently released a new emerald make up line. Find out more about it here. With my emerald dress, gold belt, green eye shadow and nail polish I was ready and off to see the wizard! See how I connected with my witchy side below:

To purchase this Oz inspired emerald dress, visit Venus here. Sizes run big, so order a size smaller than usual. To learn more about the film visit here. And go see Oz: The Great and Powerful out in theaters now!

Minty Fresh

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

My new obsession this month is with the color mint. Whether it’s dark or light in hue, mint is a fabulous color. It can highlight a great tan, or even compensate for a lack of one. Three purchases this month have me really excited. Check out my new buys:

It all started with a trip to Las Vegas. My boyfriend’s little sister flew from New Jersey to celebrate her 21st birthday. She was having an amazing time, but learned a very important lesson the hard way, when visiting Vegas pack your hottest pair of comfortable shoes. Sure Vegas is the city of excess, and we all want to look hot, but when in Vegas you want to party all night long, and that requires a comfortable pair of shoes. I would never suggest wearing an frumpy pair of flats, but there are plenty of sexy styles that won’t kill your feet. We took a trip to the Fashion Show Mall to find her a pair of shoes that she could dance in the rest of her trip. Of course we had to stop by Aldo, and of course I had to find a pair of shoes I just had to have.

These mint leather sandals were too good to pass up. The heel is low enough for me to be able to wear them whether I’m going out on date night or attending a conference. The silver heel adds a bit of sex appeal, to an otherwise average shoe style. The shoe is light, easy to walk in, and comfortable to wear. The mint hue brought out the tan in my legs, which need a lot more sun light if you ask me. You can find these shoes at your local Aldo store or online here for $80.

Once I had these shoes I needed something to wear with them. I came across this skirt on Lulus.com. The style is a little 1950’s which I think matches the style of the shoe perfectly. The only issue I encountered when the skirt arrived was the tulle underlay. It added a lot more volume to the skirt, which can be unflattering. I simply cut the tulle from under the skirt (it came off very easily) and the skirt fell closer to my hips. The color was described as mint, and it’s a very rich mint tone. The skirt is high waisted, so a cropped t-shirt or tank works well with it. I bought two different shirts from Express to go with this outfit. You can find them here. I purchased this skirt here at $45 with free shipping.

The bracelet is also from Lulus.com. The light blue tone matched the soft mint tone of my Aldo heels, and the fake jewels add a little sparkle. This bracelet can be found online here for just $16. For my neck piece I found a pretty mint toned necklace at Express. The necklace can be found here or in stores for $40, but buy one necklace at Express right now, and get the second for $9.50.

I hope you fall in love with mint this month like I did!

MeeshMe

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